If the agreement is finalised – expected mid-2008 – HP will scoop up about 2,500 Deutsche Post employees who provide data centre services including network, application and infrastructure management at offices in the Czech Republic, Arizona and Malaysia.

HP senior EMEA vice president and managing director Francesco Serafini said in a statement that the firm would build on its 15-year relationship with Deutsche Post.

"With our highly experienced services professionals and global capabilities, we propose to deliver a more simplified and flexible IT infrastructure that would deliver true business value and effectiveness, a better return on IT and reduced operational costs," he added. ®